Dual-screen electronic devices

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for dual-screen electronic devices are provided in which, at a dual-screen electronic device having a first housing and a second housing attached by a hinge, a first processor, a first display mounted to the first housing, where the first display includes a first touch-sensitive surface, a second display mounted to the second housing, and a first memory contained within the first housing, a first user interface is displayed on the first display and a second user interface, different from the first user interface, is displayed on the second display. While displaying the first and second user interfaces, a user input is detected on the first display and, in response, a display of the second user interface, displayed on the second display, is changed. Separately is presented a user-adjustable-keyboard software-application.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/257,869, entitled “Secondary Screen for Smartphones, Notebooks,Tablets, Cameras and Other Devices Producing Photo/Video Output and/orRequiring a Keyboard-like Input,” filed Nov. 20, 2015, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This specification describes electronic devices and systems with twodisplays.

BACKGROUND

Portable electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, and other devicesare often used to make photo or video and/or to input text. However, itis not possible to view a digital image being captured by these portableelectronic devices from angles opposite the display mounted on thedevice. Further, composition on electronic devices with touch screens ishindered by the amount of available space to display the document beingcomposed and an electronic keyboard. Moreover, conventional electronickeyboards are not customizable, other than display in one of a limitednumber of preset views (e.g., portrait mode, landscape mode, and splitkeyboard mode.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure solves these and other problems by providingelectronic devices having at least two displays. In some embodiments,the screens are rotatable and/or detachable from each other. In someembodiments, the electronic device displays a document being composed ona first display and an electronic keyboard on a second display. In someembodiments, the size of the electronic keyboard is adjustable by auser.

The following presents a summary of the present disclosure in order toprovide a basic understanding of some of the aspects of the presentdisclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the presentdisclosure. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of theinvention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purposeis to present some of the concepts of the present disclosure in asimplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that ispresented later.

Various embodiments of systems, methods and devices within the scope ofthe appended claims each have several aspects, no single one of which issolely responsible for the desirable attributes described herein.Without limiting the scope of the appended claims, some prominentfeatures are described herein. After considering this discussion, andparticularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description”one will understand how the features of various embodiments are used.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a dual-screen electronic devicehaving a first housing and a second housing attached by a hinge, a firstprocessor (e.g., a first set of one or more processors) contained withinthe first housing, a first display mounted to the first housing and inelectronic communication with the first processor, where the firstdisplay includes a first touch-sensitive surface (e.g., the firstdisplay is a touchscreen), a second display mounted to the secondhousing and in electronic communication with the first processor, and afirst memory contained within the first housing and in electroniccommunication with the first processor, the first memory storingnon-transitory instructions which, when executed by the first processor,cause the dual-screen electronic device to display a first userinterface on the first display, display a second user interface,different from the first user interface, on the second display, andwhile displaying the first user interface on the first display and thesecond user interface on the second display, responsive to detecting afirst user input on the first display, changing a display of the seconduser interface on the second display.

A secondary screen for devices like smartphones, notebooks, tablets aswell as digital cameras is provided. The device equipped by thesecondary screen may have a form factor of a clamshell (flip), whichmeans that it is in two or more main sections that fold via ahinge/joint-hinge. The sections may be attached to each other on long oron a short edge of the device. The hinge/joint may be constructed insuch a way that the sections may be attached to any of two neighboringedges. The sections can be fixed at any angles/positions between them.The angle between the sections may reach 360°, when the screens areoriented in the opposite directions. The sections may be detachable. Inthis case they are connected wirelessly. They may be also connected bywire at some distance. Detail with joint/hinge which provides connection(physical and/or wire/information/energy transfer) between the sectionsmay be also detachable.

In some embodiments, the secondary screen may be used to demonstrate theoutput of the photo/video camera(s) of the device. The secondary screenmay be also used as an adjustable keyboard. Size, position and shape ofany button(s) may be specified by the user. The secondary screenkeyboard may also have user defined buttons. User defined buttons may beused to enter any symbols specified by the user or launch anyprograms/commands or sequences of programs/command specified by theuser. Digital camera may be also equipped with the secondary screen. Thesecondary screen is used to demonstrate the picture from the camera tothe person(s) being shot or to somebody else located at some distance.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a secondary screen fordevices like smartphones, notebooks, and tablets. The device equipped bythe secondary screen may have a form factor of a clamshell (flip), whichmeans that it is in two or more main sections that fold via ahinge/joint-hinge. The sections may be attached to each other on long oron a short edge of the device. The hinge/joint may be constructed insuch a way that the sections may be attached to any of two neighboringedges. The sections can be fixed at any angles/positions between them.The angle between the sections may reach 360°, when the screens areoriented in the opposite directions. The sections may be detachable. Inthis case they are connected wirelessly. They may be also connected bywire at some distance. Detail with joint/hinge which provides connection(physical and/or wire/information/energy transfer) between the sectionsmay be also detachable. The device may have more than one secondaryscreen.

In some embodiments, the secondary screen is used to demonstrate theoutput of the photo/video camera(s) of the device. In some embodiments,two or more secondary screens are used.

In some embodiments on the second screen or as separately functioningsoftware (or additional software functionality, implemented intoprograms such as MICROSOFT WORD or EXCEL, or other programs such asADOBEREADER) for touchscreen/touch-surface devices user-adjustablekeyboard can be used. Size, position and shape of any button may bespecified by the user. The user-adjustable-keyboard (hereinafter namedas user-adjustable-keyboard or adjustable-keyboard, or second screenkeyboard) may also have user defined buttons. User defined buttons maybe used to enter any symbols specified by the user and/or launch anyprograms/commands, and/or sequences of programs/command specified by theuser, and/or any button of the adjustable keyboard can be provided withany number of switchable symbols/commands, and/or any menu button of anyprogram may be appointed/converted into a button of the adjustablekeyboard. The screen with the adjustable keyboard may have a smallpart(s) showing the specified zone(s) of the main screen and/or the partof the main screen where editing is taking place. Part of the screenwith above keyboard may be used as a touch-pad to use it as a mouse-likepointing device. Size, position and properties (like speed of mousepointer in different zones) of this part of the secondary screen may beadjustable by the user. User-adjustable keyboard may be realized for anytouch-screen/touch-surface devices, including with a singletouch-screen/touch-surface. One or more secondary screens may be used.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a digital camera equippedwith the secondary screen(s). The secondary screen(s) is(are) used todemonstrate the picture from the camera to the person(s) being shotand/or to somebody else located at some distance. One or more secondaryscreens may be used.

In some embodiments, the device with a secondary screen(s) that can bemade of two (or more) independent devices. They may have a possibilityto be connected to each other by a kind of join/hinge and/or may haveonly wireless connection. One of the devices functions as secondaryscreen. In this case special software is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The implementations disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example,and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanyingdrawings. Like reference numerals refer to corresponding partsthroughout the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a dual-screen electronic device having two displaysin a clamshell orientation capable of being rotated about a hingeconnecting the two displays, in accordance with some implementations ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a dual-screen electronic device having two displaysconnected with a rotatable hinge at a single corner on each display, inaccordance with some implementations of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a dual-screen electronic device havingtwo displays in a clamshell orientation capable of being rotated about ahinge connecting the two displays, in accordance with someimplementations of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates use of a detached second screen for viewing imagesand video being recorded by the electronic device, in accordance withsome implementations of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary dual-screen electronic device,in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the presentapplication as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The samereference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and thefollowing detailed description to refer to the same or like parts. Thoseof ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detaileddescription of the present application is illustrative only and is notintended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the presentapplication will readily suggest themselves to such skilled personshaving benefit of this disclosure.

In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of theimplementations described herein are shown and described. It will, ofcourse, be appreciated that in the development of any such actualimplementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be madein order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliancewith application-related and business-related constraints, and thatthese specific goals will vary from one implementation to another andfrom one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated thatsuch a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Portable electronic devices (e.g., laptop computers, smartphones,notebooks, tablets, cameras, etc.) having two displays (e.g., asecondary screen) are provided by the present disclosure. The screensare connected through a hinge or joint allowing them to rotate relativeto one another.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a secondary screen fordevices like smartphones, notebooks, tablets as well as digital camerasis proposed. The device equipped by the secondary screen may have a formfactor of a clamshell (flip). The sections may be attached to each otheron long or on a short edge of the device. The angle between the sectionsmay reach 360°, when the screens are oriented in the oppositedirections. The sections may be detachable. The secondary screen(s) ofmay be used to demonstrate the output of the photo/video camera(s) ofthe device. Digital camera may be also equipped with the secondaryscreen(s). The secondary screen(s) is/are used to demonstrate thepicture from the camera to the person(s) being shot or to somebody elselocated at some distance. On the second screen or as separatelyfunctioning software (or additional software functionality, implementedinto programs MICROSOFT WORD or EXCEL, or other programs such asADOBEREADER) for touchscreen/touch-surface device(s) the user-adjustablekeyboard can be used. Size, position, function and shape of any buttonmay be specified by the user.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, in some embodiments, the screens (e.g.,screens 102 and 104 in FIG. 1 and screens 302 and 304 in FIG. 3) of theportable electronic device are arranged in a clamshell orientation,joined at a hinge (e.g., hinge 106 in FIG. 1 and hinge 306 in FIG. 3)such that one or both of the screens are rotatable about the hinge. Insome embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the screens areattached to each other through a hinge disposed along a long edge ofeach screen. In other embodiments, the screens are attached through ahinge disposed along a short edge of each screen. In some embodiments,the sections (e.g., screens) can be fixed at any angles/positionsrelative to one another. In some embodiments, the angle between thesections (e.g., screens) may reach 360°, when the screens are orientedin the opposite directions (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1 when the screensare at positions 102-4 and 104-4, respectively, and as shown in FIG. 3when the screens are at positions 302-0 and 304-0, respectively).

Referring to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the screens (e.g., screens 202and 204) of the portable electronic device are joined at a joint (e.g.,joint 206) attached to a single point on each screen (e.g., at a cornerof each screen). In some embodiments, when the screens are joined at asingle point, the screens may rotate about more than one axis relativeto each other. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, screen 202 rotatesaway (e.g., along an x-axis) from screen 204 and then twists (e.g.,along a z-axis) to face left, when moving from position 202-1 toposition 202-2.

In some embodiments, the two screens are in wired communication (e.g.,one display is in electronic communication with one or more processorslocated in a housing to which the other screen is mounted) through aconnection (e.g., communication bus) spanning the hinge or jointconnecting the two screens (e.g., through a communication bus passingthrough hinge 106 in FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the two screens arein wireless communication with each other. In some embodiments, onescreen is detachable from the other and the screens are in wirelesscommunication when detached. In some embodiments, where one screen isdetachable from the other screen, the screens are in wired communicationwhen attached (e.g., the hinge or joint attaching the two screensincludes a communications docking mechanism bringing the two screensinto wired communication with each other).

In some embodiments, one screen is powered by a power source locatedwithin a housing to which the other screen is mounted, and a connectionto the power occurs through the hinge or joint connecting the twoscreens. For example, in some embodiments, screen 26 mounted to housing2 is powered by power source 24 within housing 1, through a connectiontransversing hinge 62, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, a photo, live image, video,etc., captured by a digital camera within a dual-screen electronicdevice of the disclosure is transmitted to one or both of the twoscreens (e.g., screens 404 and 402). For example, as illustrated in theupper left panel of FIG. 4, where the screens are positionedback-to-back relative to one another (e.g., at an angle of about 360°relative to a closed configuration where the two screens are directlyfacing one another), the person(s) 408 who is the subject of thephoto/video to view the image at the same time as the person 410 takingthe image. This allows the subject 408 to see how they look in the photoand/or video (e.g., to assess the quality of shooting). If the screensare detached, as illustrated in the other panels of FIG. 4, one screen404 can be located in view of the person(s) 408 who is the subject ofphoto/video. This allows the subject to see how they look in the photoand/or video (e.g., to assess the quality of shooting) when not lookingin the direction of the digital camera (e.g., within the housing towhich screen 402 is mounted). For example, in the upper right panel ofFIG. 4, subject 408 can view (e.g., in real-time) an image beingacquired by a digital camera associated with screen 402, while facingaway from the camera, by looking a second screen 404 that is detachedfrom screen 402. The device is unique for photo and/or video shooting.For example, when taking a “selfie”, the detachable secondary screen maybe attached to the opposite side of a selfie stick (e.g., near the user)to allow the user to see the image being acquired. In some embodiments,more than one secondary screen may be used, e.g., positioned atdifferent locations and angles relative to a subject being acquired.This allows them to see their image without turning their head(s)

In some embodiments, a secondary screen(s) may be used with photo/videocameras for the same purposes and in the same way (in some embodiments,the photo/video camera will include a first display mounted on thecamera). In this case the secondary screen(s) should be detachable orprovided as separate detail(s). The secondary screen(s) may be of abigger size. The secondary screen(s) allow(s) the person(s) being shotto estimate the quality of shooting. If the secondary screen(s) is/arebig enough it may be located near the photographer/camera man or evenbehind him. Such device will be very helpful for professionalphotographers, film makers and for models (e.g. fashion models beingshot). Several (more than one) secondary screens may be used in thiscase as well. They may be located at different directions/locationsaround the photographed/filmed person.

In some embodiments, on the second screen or as separately functioningsoftware (or additional software functionality, implemented intoprograms MICROSOFT WORD or EXCEL, or other programs such as ADOBEREADER)for touchscreen/touch-surface device(s) the user-adjustable keyboard canbe used (e.g., to use for composition of a document displayed on thefirst screen. In some embodiments, the size of the electronic keyboarddisplayed on the second screen can be enlarged or shrunk by a user,e.g., to configure the keyboard to the size of the user's hands. Thiswill reduce the number of misprints caused by hitting a wrong buttonand/or provide possibility of quicker typing as soon as sizes ofkeyboard buttons and their locations are adjusted under exact user. Insome embodiments, more than one secondary screen can be used to displayone or more electronic keyboards.

In some embodiments, each key on the electronic keyboard is individuallycustomizable. In some embodiments, the size, position, color, and/orshape of any button(s) may be specified by the user. In someembodiments, when a single key on the keyboard is customized by a user,the device automatically customizes one or more other keys on thekeyboard in a similar fashion (e.g., all keys on the keyboard, allnumber keys, all letter keys, all punctuation, etc.).

In some embodiments, one or more user-defined keys may be added to theelectronic keyboard. In some embodiments, a user-defined button isassociated with one or more of the following functions:

-   -   entering non-standard symbols (mathematical, physical,        financial, letters or pictograms from different languages);    -   launching different programs and/or commands;    -   launching macros (e.g., sequences of programs and/or commands);    -   any menu button of any program may be appointed/converted into        button of the adjustable keyboard; and    -   any button of the adjustable keyboard can be provided with any        number of switchable symbols/commands.

In some embodiments, the screen displaying an electronic keyboard alsodisplays a specified portion of the document being drafted on the otherscreen (e.g., a portion of the document being composed/edited).

In some embodiments, the secondary screen, or a portion thereof, isconfigured as a touch-pad to direct a cursor displayed on the primary(e.g., other) screen. In some embodiments, the size of the touch-padarea (e.g., the portion of the display dedicated to act as a touchpad,speed of mouse-pointer in different zones) is adjustable by the user.

Other screen(s) may also be located on the place of any other surface(s)without screen(s). In some embodiments, the device with a secondaryscreen(s) can be made of two (or more) independent devices. They mayhave a possibility to be connected to each other by a kind of join/hingeand/or may have only wireless connection. One of the devices functionsas the secondary screen. In this case special software is required.

FIG. 5 is an example block diagram illustrating an electronic device100, in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure.The electronic device 100 in some implementations includes two housings1 and 2 connected by a hinge 62, one or more processing units (CPU(s))22 (also referred to as processors), one or more network interfaces 20,two or more displays 26 (e.g., one mounted to each of housing 1 and 2),one or more memory 36, one or more communication buses 30 forinterconnecting these components, and one or more power sources 24 forpowering these components. The communication buses 30 optionally includecircuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controlscommunications between system components. The memory 36 typicallyincludes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM orother random access solid state memory devices, and optionally includesnon-volatile memory 14, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storagedevices optionally accessed by a controller 12. The memory 36 optionallyincludes one or more storage devices remotely located from the CPU(s)22. The memory 36, or alternatively the non-volatile memory device(s)within the memory 36, comprises a non-transitory computer readablestorage medium. In some implementations, the memory 36 or alternativelythe non-transitory computer readable storage medium stores the followingprograms, modules and data structures, or a subset thereof:

-   -   optionally, an operating system 40, which includes procedures        for handling various basic system services and for performing        hardware dependent tasks;    -   optionally, a file system 42 which may be a component of        operating system 40, for managing files stored or accessed by        the electronic device 100;    -   a communications module (or instructions) 44 for connecting a        CPU located within one of housing 1 or 2 with a display 26        mounted to the other housing and, optionally, with other devices        via one or more network interfaces 20 (wired or wireless),        and/or a communication network 60, optionally including a        delocalized communications network 64. In some embodiments,        communications circuitry includes a wired communication between        the first housing 1 and the second housing 2, through the hinge        62;    -   a document management module 46 for drafting, editing, and        reviewing user-generated documents; and    -   an electronic keyboard management module 48 for customizing an        electronic keyboard displayed in a first user interface, the        keyboard profile 48 including:        -   one or more global keyboard parameters 50-1 customizable by            the user including, for example, a size of the keyboard            52-1-1, a shape of the keyboard 52-1-2, a color of the            keyboard 52-1-N, etc.; and        -   one or more individual key parameters 50-2 et seq.            customizable by the user including, for example, a size of a            key 52-2-1, a shape of a key 52-2-2, a color of a key            52-2-M, etc.

In some implementations, one or more of the above identified elementsare stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices,and correspond to a set of instructions for performing a functiondescribed above. The above identified modules or programs (e.g., sets ofinstructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs,procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may becombined or otherwise re-arranged in various implementations. In someimplementations, the memory 36 optionally stores a subset of the modulesand data structures identified above. Furthermore, the memory 36 maystore additional modules and data structures not described above.

Exemplary Embodiments

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a dual-screen electronic device(e.g., a portable electronic device such as a smartphone, tablet,laptop, personal assistant, digital camera, etc.) including a firsthousing (e.g., housing 1 in FIG. 5) and a second housing (e.g., housing2 in FIG. 5) attached by a hinge (e.g., hinges 106, 206, 306, or 62 inFIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5, respectively). The device includes a firstprocessor (e.g., a first set of one or more processors) contained withinthe first housing (e.g., CPU 22-1 in FIG. 5). The electronic device alsoincludes a first display mounted to the first housing (e.g., display102, 202, 302, 402, and 26-1 in FIGS. 1-5, respectively) and inelectronic communication with the first processor (e.g., CPU 22-1). Thefirst display 26-1 includes a first touch-sensitive surface (e.g., thefirst display is a touchscreen display).

The dual-screen electronic device also includes a second display (e.g.,display 104, 204, 304, 404, and 26-2 in FIGS. 1-5, respectively) mountedto the second housing and in electronic communication with the firstprocessor (e.g., CPU 22-1 in FIG. 5). The device further includes afirst memory contained within the first housing (e.g., memory 36-1 inFIG. 5) and in electronic communication with the first processor (e.g.,CPU 22-1 in FIG. 5), the first memory storing non-transitoryinstructions which, when executed by the first processor (e.g., CPU 22-1in FIG. 5), cause the dual-screen electronic device to: display a firstuser interface (e.g., a user interface for an electronic keyboard) onthe first display including the first touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,display 102, 202, 302, 402, and 26-1 in FIGS. 1-5, respectively),display a second user interface (e.g., a user interface for acomposition document, such as a letter), different from the first userinterface, on the second display (e.g., display 104, 204, 304, 404, and26-2 in FIGS. 1-5, respectively), while displaying the first userinterface on the first display including the first touch-sensitivesurface and the second user interface on the second display, responsiveto detecting a first user input on the first display including the firsttouch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting selection of a key on anelectronic keyboard), changing a display of the second user interface onthe second display (e.g., inserting the letter associated with theselected key into a document displayed on the second display).

In some embodiments of the dual-screen electronic devices describedherein, the second housing is rotatable by at least 350 degrees (e.g.,from a first orientation directly facing the first housing to a secondorientation facing directly away from the first housing, as illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 3) about an axis defined by the hinge (e.g., hinge 106 or306 in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively), relative to the first housing.

In some embodiments of the dual-screen electronic devices describedherein, the hinge (e.g., joint or hinge 206 in FIG. 2) is attached toonly a first corner of the first housing and only a first corner of thesecond housing (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 2). The second housing isrotatable about a plurality of axes transversing the hinge. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 2, screen 202 rotates away (e.g., along anx-axis) from screen 204 and then twists (e.g., along a z-axis) to faceleft, when moving from position 202-1 to position 202-2.

In some embodiments of the dual-screen electronic devices describedherein, the second display (e.g., display 404 or 26-2 in FIGS. 4 and 5,respectively) is in wireless communication with the one or moreprocessors. One or more of the first housing and the second housing aredetachable from the hinge (e.g., as shown by the detached housings inFIG. 4).

In some embodiments of the dual-screen electronic devices describedherein, the second user interface displayed on the second displayincludes a user-composed document (e.g., a letter, drawing, picture,music score, etc.), the first user interface displayed on the firstdisplay comprising the first touch-sensitive surface includes aplurality of document inputs (e.g., an electronic alpha-numerickeyboard, a paint pallet, a musical keyboard, etc.), and responsive todetecting a first user input at a location on the first displaycorresponding to a first respective document input in the plurality ofdocument inputs (e.g., detecting a user tap on a letter in an electronickeyboard), updating the user-composed document displayed on the seconddisplay to include the first respective document input (e.g., adding theselected letter to a composition document).

In some embodiments of the dual-screen electronic devices describedherein, the plurality of document inputs displayed by the first displayincluding the first touch-sensitive surface is an electronicalpha-numeric keyboard comprising a plurality of electronic keys, and atleast one electronic key in the plurality of electronic keys iscustomizable (e.g., shape, size, corresponding input, etc.) by the user.For example, in some embodiments, memory 36 includes an electronickeyboard profile 48, which may be customized globally by adjusting aglobal parameter 50-1 (e.g., a size, shape, color, etc. of thekeyboard). In some embodiments, individual keys may also be customizedby adjusting a key-specific parameter 50-2 et seq. (e.g., a size shape,color, etc. for an individual key). In some embodiments, responsive touser customization of a first electronic key (e.g., changing “A” keyparameters 50-2), the device automatically changes one or more otherkeys (e.g., all other letter keys 50-3 to 50-Y) in a similar or samefashion. In some embodiments user-adjustable keyboard can be realized asa separately functioning software or additional software functionality,implemented into programs (such as MICROSOFT WORD or EXCEL, or otherprograms such as ADOBEREADER) for touchscreen/touch-surface device(s).

In some embodiments of the dual-screen electronic devices describedherein, the first user interface displayed on the first displayincluding the first touch-sensitive surface further includes an area(s)configured to function as a touch-pad for manipulating a cursordisplayed within the second user interface displayed on the seconddisplay or on touch surface. For example, in some embodiments, the firstscreen displays an electronic keyboard in a first area of the screen andan electronic touch-pad in a second area of the screen, allowing a userto type and edit content displayed on the second screen.

In some embodiments, the second user interface displayed on the seconddisplay includes a user-composed document, and the first user interfacedisplayed on the first display comprising the first touch-sensitivesurface further includes an area configured to display a portion of theuser-composed document displayed on the second display.

In some embodiments of the dual-screen electronic devices describedherein, the device includes a second processor (e.g., a second set ofone or more processors) contained within the second housing (e.g.,optional CPU 22-2 in housing 2 in FIG. 5) and in electroniccommunication with the second display (e.g., display 26-2 in FIG. 5),where the second display comprises a second touch-sensitive surface(e.g., a user can type on an electronic keyboard displayed on the firstscreen and navigate (e.g., scroll, highlight, insert/move a cursor,etc.) directly on the document displayed on the second screen). Thedevice also includes a second memory (e.g., optional memory 36-2 in FIG.5) contained within the second housing and in electronic communicationwith the second processor, the second memory storing non-transitoryinstructions which, when executed by the second processor, cause thedual-screen electronic device to: while displaying the first userinterface (e.g., an electronic keyboard and optionally an electronictouchpad) on the first display (e.g., display 26-1 in FIG. 5) includingthe first touch-sensitive surface and the second user interface (e.g.,for a composition document) on the second display: responsive todetecting a second user input on the second display including the secondtouch-sensitive surface (e.g., tapping on a word in a compositiondocument, etc.), changing a display of the second user interface on thesecond display (e.g., highlighting a passage of a letter, placing acursor, drawing on a picture, modifying a score, etc.).

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a digital camerasystem including a digital camera having a first housing, an imageacquisition subsystem contained within the first housing, the imageacquisition subsystem configured to acquire a digital image of a fieldof view defined by a lens of the image acquisition subsystem, one ormore processors in electronic communication with the image acquisitionsubsystem, and a memory, the memory storing non-transitory instructionswhich, when executed by the first processor, cause the digital camerato: acquire a live digital image of the field of view (e.g., a liveimage, a single digital image, or a movie, etc.), and transmit the livedigital image of the field of view to a portable electronic device. Thedigital camera system also includes a portable electronic device havinga second housing, and a display mounted to the second housing, thedisplay in wireless communication with the digital camera, where thedisplay is configured to display the live digital image of the field ofview transmitted from the digital camera in real-time.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a customizabledigital keyboard. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides anon-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or moreprograms, the one or more programs including instructions, which whenexecuted by an electronic device with a touchscreen display cause theelectronic device to display a digital alpha-numeric keyboard having aplurality of electronic keys at a first size in a plurality of sizes onthe touchscreen display, while displaying the digital alpha-numerickeyboard, responsive to detecting a user input satisfyingdisplay-changing criteria, changing display of the digital alpha-numerickeyboard to a second size in the plurality of sizes, where the secondsize is selectable by a user.

In some embodiments, changing display of the alphanumeric keyboard to asecond size consists of changing a size of a first electronic key in theplurality of electronic keys.

In some embodiments, the storage media further includes instructionscausing the electronic device to, after changing the size of the firstelectronic key in the plurality of electronic keys in response todetecting the user input satisfying the display-changing criteria,automatically change a size of a second electronic key in the pluralityof electronic keys in accordance with the change in size of the firstelectronic key.

In some embodiments, the digital alpha-numeric keyboard includes auser-defined electronic key in the plurality of electronic keys, theuser-defined electronic key corresponding to one or more actions on theelectronic device selected from launching a program, performing a macro,inserting a non-standard character into a user-composed document, anddisplaying a menu.

In some embodiments, the electronic alphanumeric keyboard is displayedin a first area of the display, the non-transitory computer readablestorage media further including instructions causing the electronicdevice to display, in a second area of the display, a digital touch-padfor manipulating a cursor on the display.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Plural instances may be provided for components, operations orstructures described herein as a single instance. Finally, boundariesbetween various components, operations, and data stores are somewhatarbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in the context ofspecific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionalityare envisioned and may fall within the scope of the implementation(s).In general, structures and functionality presented as separatecomponents in the example configurations may be implemented as acombined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionalitypresented as a single component may be implemented as separatecomponents. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements fall within the scope of the implementation(s).

Memory optionally includes high-speed random access memory andoptionally also includes non-volatile memory, such as one or moremagnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory by othercomponents of device, such as one or more processors and a peripheralsinterface, is, optionally, controlled by a memory controller.

A peripherals interface can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to one or more processors and memory. The oneor more processors run or execute various software programs and/or setsof instructions stored in memory to perform various functions for deviceand to process data.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g.,computer-implemented methods). These modules (i.e., sets ofinstructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs,procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules are,optionally, combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. Insome embodiments, memory optionally stores a subset of the modules anddata structures identified above. Furthermore, memory optionally storesadditional modules and data structures not described above.

Accordingly, in other embodiments, the present disclosure provideselectronic devices including one or more processors, memory, and atleast two displays, where the memory includes instructions forperforming all or a portion of one or more methods described herein.

In other embodiments, the present disclosure provides computer readablestorage medium (e.g., non-transitory medium) storing one or moreprograms, the one or more programs including instructions, which whenexecuted by an electronic device with one or more processors and atleast two displays, cause the device to perform all or a portion of oneor more methods described herein.

In other embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods that, whenperformed at an electronic device including one or more processors,memory, and at least two displays, performs all or a portion of thefunctions described herein.

It will also be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,”etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elementsshould not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used todistinguish one element from another. For example, a first object couldbe termed a second object, and, similarly, a second object could betermed a first object, without changing the meaning of the description,so long as all occurrences of the “first object” are renamedconsistently and all occurrences of the “second object” are renamedconsistently. The first object and the second object are both objects,but they are not the same object.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularimplementations only and is not intended to be limiting of the claims.As used in the description of the implementations and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as usedherein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon”or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination”or “in response to detecting,” that a stated condition precedent istrue, depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it isdetermined (that a stated condition precedent is true)” or “if (a statedcondition precedent is true)” or “when (a stated condition precedent istrue)” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response todetermining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “upon detecting”or “in response to detecting” that the stated condition precedent istrue, depending on the context.

The foregoing description included example systems, methods, techniques,software, instruction sequences, and computing machine program productsthat embody illustrative implementations. For purposes of explanation,numerous specific details were set forth in order to provide anunderstanding of various implementations of the inventive subjectmatter. It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art thatimplementations of the inventive subject matter may be practiced withoutthese specific details. In general, well-known instruction instances,protocols, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific implementations. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Manymodifications and variations are possible in view of the aboveteachings. The implementations were chosen and described in order tobest explain the principles and their practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the implementations andvarious implementations with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual-screen electronic device comprising: afirst housing and a second housing attached by a hinge; a firstprocessor contained within the first housing; a first display mounted tothe first housing and in electronic communication with the firstprocessor, wherein the first display comprises a first touch-sensitivesurface; a second display mounted to the second housing and inelectronic communication with the first processor, wherein the seconddisplay comprises a second touch-sensitive surface; a firstcommunications bus disposed in the first housing and configured toenable electronic communication between the first display, the seconddisplay and a network; a second communication bus disposed in the secondhousing and configured to enable electronic communication between thefirst display, the second display, and the network, wherein the firstcommunications bus and the second communications bus are configured totransmits inputs received between the first display and the seconddisplay based on a type of input received and a location of the input; afirst power source disposed in the first housing and configured to powerthe first display; a second power source disposed in the second housingand configured to power the second display; and a first memory containedwithin the first housing and in electronic communication with the firstprocessor, the first memory storing non-transitory instructions which,when executed by the first processor, cause the dual-screen electronicdevice to: display a first user interface on the first displaycomprising the first touch-sensitive surface; display a second userinterface, different from the first user interface, on the seconddisplay; while displaying the first user interface on the first displaycomprising the first touch-sensitive surface and the second userinterface on the second display: responsive to detecting a first userinput on the first display comprising the first touch-sensitive surface,changing content of the second user interface on the second display. 2.The dual-screen electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second housingis rotatable by at least 350 degrees about an axis defined by the hinge,relative to the first housing.
 3. The dual-screen electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein: the hinge is attached to only a first comer of thefirst housing and only a first corner of the second housing, and thesecond housing is rotatable about a plurality of axes transversing thehinge.
 4. The dual-screen electronic device of claim 1, wherein: thesecond display is in wireless communication with the one or moreprocessors, and one or more of the first housing and the second housingare detachable from the hinge.
 5. The dual-screen electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein: the second user interface displayed on the seconddisplay includes a user-composed document, the first user interfacedisplayed on the first display comprising the first touch-sensitivesurface includes a plurality of document inputs, and responsive todetecting a first user input at a location on the first displaycorresponding to a first respective document input in the plurality ofdocument inputs, updating the user-composed document displayed on thesecond display to include the first respective document input.
 6. Thedual screen electronic device of claim 5, wherein: the plurality ofdocument inputs displayed by the first display comprising the firsttouch-sensitive surface is an electronic alpha-numeric keyboardcomprising a plurality of electronic keys, and wherein at least oneelectronic key in the plurality of electronic keys is customizable bythe user.
 7. The dual-screen electronic device of claim 6, wherein thefirst user interface displayed on the first display comprising the firsttouch-sensitive surface further includes an area configured to functionas a touch-pad for manipulating a cursor displayed within the seconduser interface displayed on the second display.
 8. The dual-screenelectronic device of claim 6, wherein: the second user interfacedisplayed on the second display includes a user-composed document, andthe first user interface displayed on the first display comprising thefirst touch-sensitive surface further includes an area configured todisplay a portion of the user-composed document displayed on the seconddisplay.
 9. The dual screen electronic device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a second processor contained within the second housing andin electronic communication with the second display, and a second memorycontained within the second housing and in electronic communication withthe second processor, the second memory storing non-transitoryinstructions which, when executed by the second processor, cause thedual-screen electronic device to: while displaying the first userinterface on the first display comprising the first touch-sensitivesurface and the second user interface on the second display: responsiveto detecting a second user input on the second display comprising thesecond touch-sensitive surface, changing a display of the second userinterface on the second display.
 10. The dual screen electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the first housing is detachable form the secondhousing at the hinge.
 11. The dual screen electronic device of claim 1,wherein the first housing and the second housing are in wiredcommunication in response to the first housing and the second housingbeing coupled together by the hinge, and wherein the first housing andthe second housing are in wireless communication in response to thefirst housing and the second housing being coupled together by thehinge.
 12. The dual screen electronic device of claim 1, wherein thehinge comprises a wired connection facilitating communication betweenthe first display and the second display.
 13. A dual-screen electronicdevice comprising: a hinge; a first housing and a second housingattached by the hinge, wherein the first housing and the second housingare detachable from one another at the hinge; a first processorcontained within the first housing; a first display mounted to the firsthousing and in electronic communication with the first processor,wherein the first display comprises a first touch-sensitive surface; asecond display mounted to the second housing and in electroniccommunication with the first processor, wherein the hinge comprises awired connection facilitating communication between the first displayand the second display in response to the first housing and the secondhousing being coupled to one another at the hinge; a firstcommunications bus disposed in the first housing and a secondcommunications bus disposed in the second housing, wherein the firstcommunications bus and the second communications bus are configured toenable wireless communication between the first display and the seconddisplay in response to the first housing and the second housing beseparated; and a first memory contained within the first housing and inelectronic communication with the first processor, the first memorystoring non-transitory instructions which, when executed by the firstprocessor, cause the dual-screen electronic device to: display a firstuser interface on the first display comprising the first touch-sensitivesurface; display a second user interface, different from the first userinterface, on the second display; while displaying the first userinterface on the first display comprising the first touch-sensitivesurface and the second user interface on the second display: responsiveto detecting a first user input on the first display comprising thefirst touch-sensitive surface, changing content of the second userinterface on the second display.